FFA boss Lowy: A-League crowds will get better

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy is confident decreasing A-League crowds will pick up once the AFL and NRL finish.

Recent crowds of football’s national league have taken a turn for the worse in the past few weeks but Lowy is of firm belief that once the finals of the two competing codes are over, things will improve.

“The beginning (of the season) is always a bit tough while the competing codes are at their peak….every season starts that way,” he said. “At least since we expanded to 10 or 11 teams, it's a fact of life. I don't think we should be judged by our crowds in that period."

Lowy said that some A-League clubs are clearly concerned about the impact that the AFL and NRL has on their game but he insisted that things would be fine once their seasons are complete.

“There is a (marketing) push all the time but it achieves more when your competitors aren't playing," he added.

"We have to deal with the realities of when stadiums are available.

"Melbourne Heart wanted to postpone some (home) games but we just couldn't do that. The reason for Sydney FC's low crowds for instance isn't hard - they're not playing well.

"In fact not playing well is a bit of an understatement and Sydney's not a town to put up with that.

"The financial situation of the clubs is not as strong as it should be. But I was talking to our new coach (Socceroos boss Holger Osieck) and he said he was working in Japan five or six years after the J-League started and they had exactly the same problems.

"We need patience, but it certainly isn't neglect. Everybody's working very hard."